President Preckwinkle Attends Roundtable on the Cook County Land Bank Authority

President Preckwinkle attended a Roundtable sponsored by the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) on the Cook County Land Bank Authority on February 7. The panel was moderated by Mary Sue Barrett, President, MPC. Also on the panel along with President Preckwinkle were: Scott Goldstein, Chair, Urban Land Institute Chicago Public Policy Committee; Jim Rokakis, Director, Thriving Communities Institute and Bridget Gainer, Cook County Commissioner, 10th District. President Preckwinkle thanked those who served on the Land Bank Advisory Council, expressed her appreciation for Commissioner Gainer’s work, the work of the Metropolitan Planning Council, Urban Land Institute, and explained creating the Land Bank Authority will be a major effort, but well worth it.

President Preckwinkle has submitted names for approval to the Board of Directors for the Cook County Land Bank Authority. She sought a diverse group of professionals with expertise in a variety of fields, including housing, open space, real estate and commercial development to ensure the land bank authority can be nimble in responding to market demands. Also in her comments, she spoke about having over twenty years of public service with a focus on economic development that she brings to these discussions and to her strong support of a Land Bank Authority. She talked about visiting different parts of the County, and seeing first-hand how many municipalities struggle to return vacant properties back to productive use. They lack the resources to put abandoned property back in the hands of private owners who will improve and care for it and pay taxes. Activities like land acquisition, erasing back taxes and clearing title are costly and complicated. It challenges the abilities of even the most sophisticated and well-funded municipalities. This is why the land bank authority will work alongside municipalities to pursue their goals.

She spoke about start up funds received from the Searle Funds at the Chicago Community Trust. After comments from each panel member, the discussion was open to questions from the audience. There was a full house in attendance.